1
00:00:10,053 --> 00:00:11,137
Ooh.
2
00:00:11,971 --> 00:00:14,265
Now, that is wind, that is wind.
3
00:00:14,891 --> 00:00:16,225
Right now, the danger
is more intense
4
00:00:16,225 --> 00:00:20,063
{\an8}as we go north
into the very tightening valley. -Yeah.
5
00:00:21,189 --> 00:00:24,067
Right, and of course,
just how far can we go.
6
00:00:25,568 --> 00:00:27,111
I've come to the Arctic
7
00:00:27,862 --> 00:00:30,156
with a team
of US combat veterans.
8
00:00:31,199 --> 00:00:35,411
Decorated, dedicated
and desperate for hope
9
00:00:35,995 --> 00:00:39,082
because there is one last
battle they're still fighting.
10
00:00:40,792 --> 00:00:42,376
The one they brought
home with them.
11
00:00:45,338 --> 00:00:48,091
My second time in Iraq, it really hit me.
12
00:00:49,967 --> 00:00:51,177
We were losing people,
13
00:00:52,178 --> 00:00:54,013
and I still live
with stuff today.
14
00:00:56,140 --> 00:00:58,351
I just get so frustrated with it
15
00:00:58,351 --> 00:00:59,936
that I don't, I don't...
16
00:01:01,104 --> 00:01:03,940
you know, I don't, I just don't
wanna continue. It's hard.
17
00:01:07,318 --> 00:01:08,820
I wanna be happy again.
18
00:01:10,321 --> 00:01:12,198
And I think that
this is one of the ways
19
00:01:12,198 --> 00:01:13,658
that I can get myself there.
20
00:01:16,202 --> 00:01:18,287
For almost as long as human history,
21
00:01:18,287 --> 00:01:21,290
soldiers have been
searching for a way to heal
22
00:01:21,290 --> 00:01:23,709
the invisible wounds of war.
23
00:01:25,795 --> 00:01:28,256
I've been looking for that
for 20 years.
24
00:01:29,549 --> 00:01:32,718
Could it be
that the cure is out here...
25
00:01:35,763 --> 00:01:37,515
in the last place on Earth
26
00:01:38,182 --> 00:01:40,768
you'd ever expect to find it?
27
00:01:56,993 --> 00:02:00,580
For me, this journey
started back in 2006.
28
00:02:00,580 --> 00:02:03,749
We're on patrol with
the Iraqi's ninth division.
29
00:02:04,208 --> 00:02:06,210
there is only one
mechanized division
30
00:02:06,210 --> 00:02:08,296
in the entire Iraqi army.
31
00:02:08,296 --> 00:02:11,883
I was a network news anchor
reporting from Iraq.
32
00:02:13,634 --> 00:02:15,261
We have some breaking news
to report,
33
00:02:15,261 --> 00:02:17,388
our co-anchor of
World News Tonight,
34
00:02:17,388 --> 00:02:19,891
Bob Woodruff,
and his cameraman, Doug Vogt,
35
00:02:19,891 --> 00:02:23,686
were injured in an improvised
explosive device attack.
36
00:02:24,437 --> 00:02:26,647
The left part of my skull was,
was shattered.
37
00:02:27,273 --> 00:02:29,358
I should be dead for sure
if there was not
38
00:02:29,358 --> 00:02:32,778
military medical teams
there to save me.
39
00:02:33,654 --> 00:02:34,989
Hi, how are you? I'm Bob.
40
00:02:34,989 --> 00:02:38,743
I've got to know
so many fellow wounded.
41
00:02:40,578 --> 00:02:41,746
How are you, bro? Look at you.
42
00:02:41,746 --> 00:02:44,457
After more than 20 years of war
43
00:02:44,457 --> 00:02:46,626
in Iraq and Afghanistan,
44
00:02:47,335 --> 00:02:49,337
so many American veterans
45
00:02:49,337 --> 00:02:52,506
are struggling
with psychological trauma.
46
00:02:53,382 --> 00:02:55,843
These kinds of wounds
are ongoing
47
00:02:55,843 --> 00:02:58,930
{\an8}and they don't go away
unless something is figured out
48
00:02:58,930 --> 00:03:01,641
{\an8}to make those lives improve.
49
00:03:02,767 --> 00:03:04,727
It's just very hard to do.
50
00:03:09,815 --> 00:03:11,359
You do this every flight?
51
00:03:12,151 --> 00:03:14,070
I-I actually do,
I take it off every flight.
52
00:03:14,070 --> 00:03:15,613
It's way more comfortable.
53
00:03:16,864 --> 00:03:20,826
So, it's not the visible wounds
of war that bring us here,
54
00:03:20,826 --> 00:03:23,204
it's the wounds you don't see.
55
00:03:23,996 --> 00:03:25,748
For your information,
56
00:03:25,748 --> 00:03:28,125
we will be de-planing the aircraft
by the doors at the back.
57
00:03:28,876 --> 00:03:30,670
{\an8}It is apparently cold out there.
58
00:03:31,337 --> 00:03:32,797
{\an8}My name's Jesus Sanchez.
59
00:03:32,797 --> 00:03:35,091
{\an8}I was a medic for the Marines.
60
00:03:36,926 --> 00:03:38,761
And I feel like a piece of me
61
00:03:38,761 --> 00:03:41,222
is still in Afghanistan
every day.
62
00:03:42,640 --> 00:03:44,684
- Oh, good, it's my legs.
- Your legs.
63
00:03:44,684 --> 00:03:46,394
{\an8}My legs made it.
64
00:03:46,394 --> 00:03:48,312
{\an8}My name is Elana Duffy.
65
00:03:50,231 --> 00:03:53,985
I served in the Army
for ten years.
66
00:03:55,111 --> 00:03:57,405
Being hit by a roadside bomb
67
00:03:57,405 --> 00:03:59,615
really messed up my brain
68
00:04:00,491 --> 00:04:04,412
and I have
severe traumatic brain injury.
69
00:04:06,038 --> 00:04:07,456
{\an8}My name is Chanda Mofu,
70
00:04:07,456 --> 00:04:09,667
{\an8}twenty years of service
in our United States Army.
71
00:04:10,209 --> 00:04:14,588
I do carry trauma from my
combat experiences absolutely,
72
00:04:15,464 --> 00:04:16,841
but most of
the combat veterans
73
00:04:16,841 --> 00:04:18,175
don't talk about
their experiences
74
00:04:18,175 --> 00:04:20,052
and I've fallen
into this trap as well.
75
00:04:21,095 --> 00:04:24,307
{\an8} We're gonna start out doing
eight miles and set up our base camp.
76
00:04:24,307 --> 00:04:25,891
{\an8}You know, so, we have to be, like,
77
00:04:25,891 --> 00:04:27,601
{\an8}prepared for weather and things like that
78
00:04:28,477 --> 00:04:30,980
{\an8}as the conditions just change
really quickly, right?
79
00:04:31,772 --> 00:04:33,274
{\an8}So we're gonna go by snowmobile?
80
00:04:33,274 --> 00:04:34,608
No, we're gonna
start skiing from here.
81
00:04:34,608 --> 00:04:35,693
We're gonna go
straight from here?
82
00:04:35,693 --> 00:04:37,445
Straight from here, yep.
83
00:04:38,029 --> 00:04:39,030
- Yeah.
- Oof.
84
00:04:42,283 --> 00:04:43,284
Looking good.
85
00:04:45,369 --> 00:04:46,746
Alright, let's roll.
86
00:04:48,414 --> 00:04:51,500
We're headed into
the heart of Baffin Island,
87
00:04:52,543 --> 00:04:54,420
{\an8}at the edge
of the Arctic Circle.
88
00:04:56,422 --> 00:05:00,092
{\an8}It's one of the most pristine
and wild places on the planet.
89
00:05:03,596 --> 00:05:08,309
It is a prehistoric landscape
where granite mountains
90
00:05:08,309 --> 00:05:11,395
are some
3.5 billion years old.
91
00:05:12,355 --> 00:05:15,191
At this time of year
it's one of the best places
92
00:05:15,191 --> 00:05:18,778
to see skiesthat are illuminated by
the northern lights.
93
00:05:23,699 --> 00:05:25,368
How do you even run with these?
94
00:05:25,368 --> 00:05:26,577
When the left one goes forward,
95
00:05:26,577 --> 00:05:28,204
your right hand
goes forward.
96
00:05:28,204 --> 00:05:29,372
Okay.
97
00:05:29,372 --> 00:05:31,248
I grew up in Phoenix, Arizona.
98
00:05:31,791 --> 00:05:33,793
Seeing snow a handful of times.
99
00:05:33,793 --> 00:05:36,128
{\an8}I have never gone
cross-country skiing.
100
00:05:36,962 --> 00:05:37,963
{\an8}I am terrified.
101
00:05:41,842 --> 00:05:43,427
We got the idea to do this
102
00:05:43,427 --> 00:05:46,389
because a growing number
of scientific studies
103
00:05:46,931 --> 00:05:50,142
make the case
that immersion in nature
104
00:05:50,559 --> 00:05:52,686
may be a great treatment
for PTSD.
105
00:05:54,188 --> 00:05:55,439
Getting out in nature
106
00:05:55,439 --> 00:05:57,274
{\an8}and the radical outdoors
107
00:05:57,274 --> 00:05:59,693
{\an8}is really good
for trauma and stress.
108
00:06:00,403 --> 00:06:02,321
Dacher Keltner,
109
00:06:02,321 --> 00:06:05,658
who runs something
called the "Happiness Lab" at Berkeley,
110
00:06:06,158 --> 00:06:08,494
is one of the pioneers
in this field.
111
00:06:09,036 --> 00:06:10,496
Nature immersion,
112
00:06:10,496 --> 00:06:12,456
we know that
it has direct effects
113
00:06:12,456 --> 00:06:15,584
on your cardiovascular system,
your brain,
114
00:06:15,584 --> 00:06:16,752
how you think about yourself,
115
00:06:16,752 --> 00:06:18,504
how you think about your life,
the purpose in life.
116
00:06:19,797 --> 00:06:23,634
One study of Keltner's
that really got our attention
117
00:06:23,634 --> 00:06:27,054
involved whitewater rafting
with veterans.
118
00:06:28,556 --> 00:06:30,891
Keltner collaborated
on the study
119
00:06:30,891 --> 00:06:34,061
with his grad student
at the time, Craig Anderson.
120
00:06:35,312 --> 00:06:36,689
Craig, thanks for doing this.
121
00:06:36,689 --> 00:06:37,773
It's my pleasure.
122
00:06:38,482 --> 00:06:40,067
So what was some of the results
123
00:06:40,067 --> 00:06:43,654
of, uh, the veterans studies
that you've done?
124
00:06:44,196 --> 00:06:47,491
{\an8}I found that compared
to before the rafting trips,
125
00:06:47,992 --> 00:06:50,035
at least two weeks
after the trips,
126
00:06:50,035 --> 00:06:55,541
veterans were reporting
21% less PTSD symptoms.
127
00:06:56,041 --> 00:06:58,669
Nature takes us out
of the everyday context
128
00:06:58,669 --> 00:07:00,129
that we're used to.
129
00:07:00,129 --> 00:07:02,339
It turns out the daily hassles
130
00:07:02,339 --> 00:07:05,134
and the daily grind
that we experience,
131
00:07:05,134 --> 00:07:07,261
those things also seem smaller.
132
00:07:07,636 --> 00:07:10,764
We are hoping this trip
will have an impact on us
133
00:07:11,348 --> 00:07:14,310
as profound as
the whitewater rafting study.
134
00:07:14,310 --> 00:07:17,354
Camp one, you guys. Woo-hoo!
135
00:07:17,354 --> 00:07:19,815
- Yeah, man.
- Oh, yeah, here we are.
136
00:07:20,357 --> 00:07:21,650
That is called progress.
137
00:07:21,650 --> 00:07:23,819
So far so good
but it's only one day.
138
00:07:25,029 --> 00:07:28,407
Our plan is to camp
on a frozen river,
139
00:07:28,407 --> 00:07:30,159
the Pangnirtung Fjord
140
00:07:30,910 --> 00:07:33,329
{\an8}and explore the area on skis.
141
00:07:33,913 --> 00:07:36,665
And then, hike
into the mountains to a hidden valley
142
00:07:37,625 --> 00:07:41,712
to stand in the shadow
of Thor Peak,
143
00:07:42,755 --> 00:07:46,091
it's the highest vertical cliff
in the world.
144
00:07:47,384 --> 00:07:49,929
We'll be collecting data
on ourselves
145
00:07:49,929 --> 00:07:52,223
while we're out here
for Craig Anderson
146
00:07:52,223 --> 00:07:54,683
so he can analyze it
after we're back.
147
00:07:54,683 --> 00:07:55,976
Alright.
148
00:07:56,268 --> 00:07:58,562
After a fine day of skiing.
149
00:08:00,981 --> 00:08:04,485
I'm going to be asking you
to be doing a daily diary.
150
00:08:04,485 --> 00:08:06,362
Hello, hello.
151
00:08:07,863 --> 00:08:10,282
This is star date
or video diary.
152
00:08:10,282 --> 00:08:12,159
Every night after dinner...
153
00:08:12,159 --> 00:08:13,702
Alrighty.
154
00:08:13,702 --> 00:08:15,412
...there would be five questions
155
00:08:15,412 --> 00:08:16,497
that we would
have to answer.
156
00:08:18,415 --> 00:08:19,625
My goodness. Um...
157
00:08:19,625 --> 00:08:22,336
{\an8}So I'm gonna
take that video data...
158
00:08:22,336 --> 00:08:23,546
One, two, three, okay, it's on.
159
00:08:23,546 --> 00:08:24,922
...and I actually have software
160
00:08:24,922 --> 00:08:27,508
that will analyze
the facial expressions
161
00:08:27,508 --> 00:08:28,968
that people are making.
162
00:08:31,303 --> 00:08:33,472
We'll also be
gathering saliva samples
163
00:08:33,472 --> 00:08:35,516
to monitor our stress levels,
164
00:08:35,516 --> 00:08:37,601
measuring a hormone
called cortisol.
165
00:08:39,562 --> 00:08:40,813
Can't feel my fingers.
166
00:08:42,481 --> 00:08:43,857
When we wake up in the morning
167
00:08:43,857 --> 00:08:46,318
{\an8}a healthy cortisol profile
168
00:08:46,318 --> 00:08:48,862
{\an8}is getting a big spike
in cortisol.
169
00:08:48,862 --> 00:08:50,281
{\an8}It's like your body is like
170
00:08:50,281 --> 00:08:53,200
{\an8}manufacturing its own
cup of coffee for you.
171
00:08:53,659 --> 00:08:56,704
{\an8}That nice high spike
kind of sharply declines
172
00:08:56,704 --> 00:08:58,038
{\an8}throughout the day,
173
00:08:58,038 --> 00:09:00,874
{\an8}so that cortisol is low
at the end of the day,
174
00:09:01,292 --> 00:09:03,961
{\an8}and you're nice and relaxed
and ready to go to bed.
175
00:09:03,961 --> 00:09:05,754
{\an8} Oh, yeah,
hang on to your vials
176
00:09:06,547 --> 00:09:08,465
'cause we're gonna
submit them for...
177
00:09:08,465 --> 00:09:09,883
Science.
178
00:09:11,468 --> 00:09:15,222
Craig will also be tracking
our sleep quality
179
00:09:15,222 --> 00:09:16,849
and our heart rate variability,
180
00:09:17,308 --> 00:09:19,935
ways of monitoring whether PTSD
181
00:09:19,935 --> 00:09:22,271
is really releasing
its grip on us.
182
00:09:22,771 --> 00:09:24,273
My therapist called it "monkey brain."
183
00:09:24,857 --> 00:09:28,193
Uh, he said that you put yourself in
that survivalist mindset,
184
00:09:28,193 --> 00:09:30,195
and it's a, it's like
an evolutionary flaw.
185
00:09:30,195 --> 00:09:32,448
- Yeah.
- Where it's like "I need to survive."
186
00:09:32,448 --> 00:09:34,491
And it doesn't turn off
sometimes because you're just,
187
00:09:34,491 --> 00:09:35,743
you relate to certain things,
188
00:09:35,743 --> 00:09:36,827
and it traumatizes you
essentially.
189
00:09:36,827 --> 00:09:37,953
- Yeah. Yeah.
- Mm-hmm.
190
00:09:39,204 --> 00:09:41,415
Alright, today we were able to
talk a little bit
191
00:09:41,415 --> 00:09:44,501
about some, some of the things
that bother us.
192
00:09:45,002 --> 00:09:46,837
Um, I just don't sleep.
193
00:09:47,296 --> 00:09:51,091
Like our inability to sleep
and, you know, those stressors
194
00:09:51,091 --> 00:09:55,012
that really get in the way
of our just normal function.
195
00:09:55,471 --> 00:09:56,889
A little bit is like, you know,
196
00:09:57,389 --> 00:09:59,433
seeing all those
casualties too that kinda just
197
00:09:59,433 --> 00:10:02,269
replay a little bit in my head
when I close my eyes.
198
00:10:04,313 --> 00:10:06,690
Hopefully as I continue to immerse myself
199
00:10:07,149 --> 00:10:08,651
in this experience
200
00:10:09,234 --> 00:10:11,862
that I can unpack
a lot of the, uh...
201
00:10:17,868 --> 00:10:19,078
the incredible...
202
00:10:20,412 --> 00:10:22,706
and incredibly sad experiences
that I went through,
203
00:10:22,706 --> 00:10:24,875
um, during my combat tours.
204
00:10:26,168 --> 00:10:28,128
I want this data to actually do something
205
00:10:29,213 --> 00:10:32,299
and make people
understand things and contribute.
206
00:10:34,468 --> 00:10:35,678
Because...
207
00:10:36,887 --> 00:10:38,430
it's like one of those,
"It's too late for me.
208
00:10:38,430 --> 00:10:39,515
Save yourself."
209
00:10:40,182 --> 00:10:43,268
Um, "Help me, Obi-Wan.
You're my only hope."
210
00:10:57,449 --> 00:10:59,034
I'm gonna tape some stuff,
211
00:10:59,034 --> 00:11:00,911
{\an8}it helps to insulate
a little bit
212
00:11:01,954 --> 00:11:04,957
{\an8}or it gets really uncomfortable
really fast.
213
00:11:05,833 --> 00:11:09,086
One of the things I learned
after I was injured
214
00:11:09,086 --> 00:11:12,297
is that modern medicine
has made it possible
215
00:11:12,297 --> 00:11:16,844
to save the lives
of more soldiers than ever in history.
216
00:11:18,804 --> 00:11:20,013
{\an8}Yeah, I didn't know
what layering was
217
00:11:20,013 --> 00:11:23,517
{\an8}until I came out here so...
218
00:11:26,478 --> 00:11:28,188
{\an8}Ooh, it's cold.
219
00:11:28,188 --> 00:11:31,150
{\an8} But even modern medicine
hasn't been able to address
220
00:11:31,150 --> 00:11:34,653
something that playwrights
and poets have been describing
221
00:11:34,653 --> 00:11:36,488
since ancient
Greece and Babylon...
222
00:11:38,741 --> 00:11:41,452
the psychological
wounds of war.
223
00:11:41,452 --> 00:11:42,536
Alright.
224
00:11:42,995 --> 00:11:45,289
{\an8}So day two, ready? Let's go.
225
00:11:46,498 --> 00:11:48,500
{\an8}One more
beautiful spot on Earth.
226
00:11:50,252 --> 00:11:52,421
As we head out there
is skepticism
227
00:11:53,630 --> 00:11:55,466
but there's also hope
that Baffin Island
228
00:11:55,466 --> 00:11:57,342
will work its magic on us
229
00:11:57,885 --> 00:11:59,136
as it has for those who have
230
00:11:59,136 --> 00:12:00,971
braved the ice and cold
before us.
231
00:12:04,016 --> 00:12:05,809
It's that don't quit mindset, you know.
232
00:12:07,019 --> 00:12:09,563
{\an8}Plus, it's the, it's easily
the most beautiful place
233
00:12:09,563 --> 00:12:11,774
{\an8}I've ever been to, by far.
234
00:12:19,406 --> 00:12:20,616
I'll just say this,
235
00:12:20,616 --> 00:12:22,659
this is a lot of time
for reflection,
236
00:12:24,077 --> 00:12:26,413
kinda where you wanna go
forward in your life.
237
00:12:26,830 --> 00:12:30,876
{\an8}So... lots of, lots of things
going through my mind right now.
238
00:12:36,799 --> 00:12:38,008
Bravo one, bravo, over.
239
00:12:39,259 --> 00:12:40,511
Today the death toll
240
00:12:40,511 --> 00:12:43,430
of American troops in Iraq
reached 3,000.
241
00:12:46,934 --> 00:12:48,060
The year 2006
242
00:12:48,060 --> 00:12:49,520
was the most difficult year
of my life
243
00:12:50,479 --> 00:12:51,563
because of the combat losses
244
00:12:51,563 --> 00:12:54,525
and the people
that I led that died.
245
00:12:54,942 --> 00:12:57,569
December,
now the deadliest month this year
246
00:12:57,569 --> 00:13:01,490
costing the lives of
at least 111 American troops.
247
00:13:02,950 --> 00:13:04,910
When it happens to your own people
248
00:13:04,910 --> 00:13:08,789
and you're picking up teeth
out of a Humvee or bone parts,
249
00:13:08,789 --> 00:13:10,374
you don't wish that on anybody.
250
00:13:11,959 --> 00:13:14,586
And so, I retired,
251
00:13:14,586 --> 00:13:17,172
and I wanted to put those
traumatic events behind me.
252
00:13:20,509 --> 00:13:22,052
We should take
a minute here, you guys.
253
00:13:22,052 --> 00:13:23,971
- Stop?
- Yeah, right here.
254
00:13:23,971 --> 00:13:25,472
Let's take a minute.
255
00:13:25,472 --> 00:13:27,975
Nah, that was...
that was rough.
256
00:13:27,975 --> 00:13:29,309
Oh, my gosh, yeah.
257
00:13:32,062 --> 00:13:34,231
{\an8} The dream is to be able
to see something higher up
258
00:13:34,231 --> 00:13:35,774
{\an8}because the clouds
have blocked off
259
00:13:35,774 --> 00:13:37,192
{\an8}the peaks of the mountains.
260
00:13:42,281 --> 00:13:45,909
In recent years,
melting sea ice
261
00:13:45,909 --> 00:13:48,537
has wrapped the island
in a fog
262
00:13:49,580 --> 00:13:53,250
that is both eerily beautiful
and frustrating.
263
00:13:54,459 --> 00:13:57,880
The clouds can hide the tops of
the legendary mountains here.
264
00:14:06,471 --> 00:14:07,598
There we go!
265
00:14:08,515 --> 00:14:09,808
Hey.
266
00:14:10,642 --> 00:14:12,436
See this cloud with
that little opening right here?
267
00:14:12,436 --> 00:14:13,687
- Yeah.
- Yeah.
268
00:14:14,187 --> 00:14:15,272
Oh, my gosh.
269
00:14:15,731 --> 00:14:17,858
You can see the mountains
through the clouds over there.
270
00:14:17,858 --> 00:14:19,735
Oh, yeah,
it's starting to open up.
271
00:14:19,735 --> 00:14:21,653
So when the sun broke through the mist,
272
00:14:21,653 --> 00:14:23,280
it was transformative.
273
00:14:23,280 --> 00:14:24,698
Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha.
274
00:14:24,698 --> 00:14:25,991
That is awesome.
275
00:14:25,991 --> 00:14:27,326
Yeah.
276
00:14:27,326 --> 00:14:28,785
That's so cool.
277
00:14:28,785 --> 00:14:29,953
It's gorgeous, man.
278
00:14:30,704 --> 00:14:32,497
The appreciation
for that kinda stuff,
279
00:14:33,248 --> 00:14:34,541
this is coming back now.
280
00:14:36,668 --> 00:14:37,711
Grateful.
281
00:14:40,213 --> 00:14:43,634
This is what we came here for.
282
00:14:43,634 --> 00:14:45,093
It's insane.
283
00:14:45,093 --> 00:14:47,346
The scientists call it "awe."
284
00:14:52,351 --> 00:14:55,479
We define "awe"
as an emotion you feel,
285
00:14:55,479 --> 00:14:58,941
when you encounter things
that are vast...
286
00:14:59,942 --> 00:15:01,693
{\an8}uh, most typically,
they're kinda
287
00:15:01,693 --> 00:15:03,236
{\an8}bigger than what you expect,
288
00:15:03,236 --> 00:15:04,404
{\an8}and are mysterious.
289
00:15:09,242 --> 00:15:11,995
Religious experiences can elicit awe.
290
00:15:13,622 --> 00:15:16,249
Music and dance...
291
00:15:17,376 --> 00:15:19,878
and arts can elicit awe.
292
00:15:25,425 --> 00:15:29,137
Nature is one of the most
common and powerful ways
293
00:15:29,137 --> 00:15:31,264
that people feel awe.
294
00:15:32,808 --> 00:15:34,601
Awe calms your body down
295
00:15:35,352 --> 00:15:37,479
and then,
awe transforms your mind.
296
00:15:39,147 --> 00:15:41,608
It deactivates
chunks of your cortex here,
297
00:15:41,608 --> 00:15:43,610
and then on the side
of your brain.
298
00:15:44,486 --> 00:15:46,655
So, reduced blood flow
in those regions
299
00:15:46,655 --> 00:15:50,033
involved in too much self-focus
300
00:15:50,659 --> 00:15:54,538
which is a pathway to anxiety,
depression, rumination,
301
00:15:55,372 --> 00:15:56,581
even trauma.
302
00:15:56,581 --> 00:15:58,709
Awe orients you away
303
00:15:58,709 --> 00:16:00,127
from the self to other things,
304
00:16:00,127 --> 00:16:01,420
big things around you.
305
00:16:02,796 --> 00:16:04,339
Look at, blue sky.
306
00:16:04,798 --> 00:16:06,967
There's blue sky. What?
307
00:16:06,967 --> 00:16:08,343
Everything's changing.
308
00:16:10,387 --> 00:16:12,681
What a day, man.
This has been incredible.
309
00:16:13,223 --> 00:16:16,685
With awe, you have these oceanic feelings
310
00:16:16,685 --> 00:16:21,398
of being connected
to humanity or all of Earth.
311
00:16:22,107 --> 00:16:23,775
{\an8}Um, so it's kind of that,
312
00:16:23,775 --> 00:16:26,278
{\an8}that piece of being small
but connected.
313
00:16:28,488 --> 00:16:31,575
It's humbling to appreciate
314
00:16:31,575 --> 00:16:35,579
the snow-capped mountains
315
00:16:37,539 --> 00:16:41,293
in a corridor that's been
around for millions of years.
316
00:16:43,670 --> 00:16:46,506
When we feel awe like this,
317
00:16:47,507 --> 00:16:50,969
the scientists
can see it in our faces
318
00:16:52,721 --> 00:16:56,975
The snow-capped mountains.
319
00:16:56,975 --> 00:16:59,144
The eyes widen,
320
00:16:59,144 --> 00:17:03,106
the eyebrows rise,
the mouth opens.
321
00:17:05,567 --> 00:17:07,694
I think somewhere in my deep recesses
322
00:17:08,445 --> 00:17:10,405
I've compartmentalized
my feelings
323
00:17:10,405 --> 00:17:12,616
about those I went
to combat with
324
00:17:12,908 --> 00:17:15,285
and how I-I haven't been
in touch with them.
325
00:17:15,827 --> 00:17:18,121
And, uh, for some reason
today I just realized
326
00:17:18,121 --> 00:17:21,500
that I probably need to bring
those folks back to my life,
327
00:17:21,500 --> 00:17:24,503
uh, because they helped me
328
00:17:24,503 --> 00:17:27,756
just like I hope
I had helped them.
329
00:17:35,597 --> 00:17:37,682
Chanda and I are sharing a tent
330
00:17:37,682 --> 00:17:40,894
and as we got ready to take off
again the next morning,
331
00:17:40,894 --> 00:17:44,147
he told me he felt
that something had changed.
332
00:17:44,147 --> 00:17:46,733
The Chanda that I used to be,
right, kinda woke up.
333
00:17:47,859 --> 00:17:48,944
Think about
the millions of years
334
00:17:48,944 --> 00:17:50,779
that this landscape
has been around
335
00:17:50,779 --> 00:17:52,030
and we're now a part of it
336
00:17:52,030 --> 00:17:53,573
and it's helping us,
that's humbling.
337
00:17:53,573 --> 00:17:55,951
No matter what happened to us
over in the Middle East...
338
00:17:55,951 --> 00:17:57,035
Mm-hmm.
339
00:17:57,035 --> 00:17:58,161
...look what we have here,
340
00:17:58,161 --> 00:17:59,913
...like how blessed are we, man?
341
00:18:00,455 --> 00:18:01,456
Incredible.
342
00:18:02,207 --> 00:18:04,084
The remarkable thing is,
343
00:18:04,417 --> 00:18:07,045
his body was saying
the same thing.
344
00:18:09,172 --> 00:18:13,844
That night,
his sleep performance hit 100%.
345
00:18:16,096 --> 00:18:18,223
Good morning.
Let's go, let's go to work.
346
00:18:18,223 --> 00:18:20,892
I don't think
I've ever reached 100%
347
00:18:20,892 --> 00:18:24,855
of my sleep requirements
in my life.
348
00:18:26,064 --> 00:18:27,691
Something right happened.
349
00:18:28,859 --> 00:18:33,905
That is good news
for these 21st century struggles
350
00:18:33,905 --> 00:18:37,200
of ruminating about myself
leading to depression,
351
00:18:37,200 --> 00:18:38,994
awe gets you out of that.
352
00:18:38,994 --> 00:18:41,538
It makes you look
to the outside world to find meaning.
353
00:18:41,538 --> 00:18:43,665
- Ready?
- Let's do it.
354
00:18:44,791 --> 00:18:46,334
I'm hoping
that in the coming days
355
00:18:46,334 --> 00:18:47,711
Elana and Jesus
356
00:18:47,711 --> 00:18:50,672
can experience something
like what Chanda had.
357
00:18:51,381 --> 00:18:52,382
Okay, onward.
358
00:18:53,884 --> 00:18:55,385
Let's ride.
359
00:18:55,385 --> 00:18:58,346
That nature would
carry them across a threshold.
360
00:19:03,560 --> 00:19:06,855
But wounds this deep
don't vanish easily.
361
00:19:17,157 --> 00:19:18,533
What about you?
362
00:19:18,533 --> 00:19:20,243
- Tell me about this bear.
- This bear of mine?
363
00:19:20,243 --> 00:19:21,328
- ...yeah.
- Paddington?
364
00:19:22,537 --> 00:19:26,750
{\an8}Um, Paddington is a,
365
00:19:26,750 --> 00:19:28,376
{\an8}it was a gift from my father
366
00:19:28,376 --> 00:19:30,086
before I was actually born.
367
00:19:30,587 --> 00:19:35,258
And he was in my pocket
when I was hit by an IED,
368
00:19:35,258 --> 00:19:38,511
uh, was with me
for my brain surgery,
369
00:19:38,511 --> 00:19:39,846
for my leg amputation.
370
00:19:40,263 --> 00:19:41,640
Elana has gone through a lot
371
00:19:42,057 --> 00:19:45,060
and she told me multiple times
372
00:19:45,060 --> 00:19:47,562
the last thing that she wants
out of this trip is pity.
373
00:19:49,105 --> 00:19:50,106
Alright.
374
00:19:51,733 --> 00:19:52,943
Let's do this.
375
00:19:54,527 --> 00:19:55,695
Whoo!
376
00:19:56,738 --> 00:19:57,948
I'm gonna make it,
377
00:19:58,990 --> 00:20:00,825
which is kind of
surprising to me.
378
00:20:01,660 --> 00:20:03,036
Yeah.
379
00:20:03,036 --> 00:20:05,205
Though we are
all reporting stress,
380
00:20:05,205 --> 00:20:07,540
cortisol samples
we collected before the trip
381
00:20:07,999 --> 00:20:10,210
showed Elana
was struggling.
382
00:20:10,627 --> 00:20:13,964
With Elana, her cortisol pattern
didn't look great.
383
00:20:15,548 --> 00:20:17,968
{\an8}Remember, we wanna see
a nice big spike
384
00:20:18,385 --> 00:20:21,554
{\an8}but the spike
wasn't so big for Elana.
385
00:20:22,764 --> 00:20:25,475
{\an8}And we see that in people
386
00:20:25,475 --> 00:20:27,310
{\an8}with post-traumatic stress
387
00:20:27,310 --> 00:20:29,729
{\an8}or maybe suffering
from depression.
388
00:20:31,231 --> 00:20:32,649
I wanna be happy again.
389
00:20:34,651 --> 00:20:37,946
You know,
it is a problem for me
390
00:20:37,946 --> 00:20:42,867
to keep regrets out of my life
and out of my head.
391
00:20:49,082 --> 00:20:51,251
US officials
tracking roadside bomb attacks
392
00:20:51,251 --> 00:20:52,711
against Americans in Iraq
393
00:20:52,711 --> 00:20:55,338
say they had become
much more deadly.
394
00:20:58,049 --> 00:21:02,887
I was an investigator
and an interrogator
395
00:21:04,472 --> 00:21:07,017
trying to find the bombs
before the bombs went off.
396
00:21:14,232 --> 00:21:18,028
It's not just
the dead people on the streets.
397
00:21:19,404 --> 00:21:23,033
It's not just rolling out
in a truck every day
398
00:21:23,033 --> 00:21:24,576
wondering if you're
gonna come home.
399
00:21:26,411 --> 00:21:32,542
It's, what did I have to say
to a five-year-old
400
00:21:32,542 --> 00:21:36,963
to get him to tell me
where his dad was,
401
00:21:37,589 --> 00:21:40,133
and how do you live with that?
402
00:21:40,925 --> 00:21:42,635
Hey, turn around!
403
00:21:42,635 --> 00:21:46,348
The panic attacks and the anger.
404
00:21:47,640 --> 00:21:51,144
It's such a departure
from who I know I used to be.
405
00:21:52,020 --> 00:21:53,313
And...
406
00:21:53,813 --> 00:21:56,900
now when I think about it
I'm just tired.
407
00:21:58,693 --> 00:22:00,028
Tired a lot.
408
00:22:01,321 --> 00:22:03,365
Hold on. [bleep].
409
00:22:03,365 --> 00:22:04,908
I don't know
how I'm gonna do this.
410
00:22:07,869 --> 00:22:09,746
We were making progress
411
00:22:10,163 --> 00:22:15,126
{\an8}and then Elana couldn't, um,
cross-country ski anymore.
412
00:22:15,126 --> 00:22:17,295
I'm in a lot
of [bleep] pain.
413
00:22:18,630 --> 00:22:19,923
I feel really bad.
414
00:22:19,923 --> 00:22:23,343
{\an8}Elana, she had
some developing pain
415
00:22:23,343 --> 00:22:26,554
{\an8}where her prosthetic
was connected
416
00:22:26,554 --> 00:22:28,473
to her, to her bones.
417
00:22:29,432 --> 00:22:31,684
I'm sorry about this.
418
00:22:31,684 --> 00:22:33,728
No, it's all good, we gotcha.
419
00:22:34,479 --> 00:22:35,730
Hold on.
420
00:22:37,690 --> 00:22:39,401
Oh, my God,
that feels better.
421
00:22:39,401 --> 00:22:40,902
- Does it feel better?
422
00:22:40,902 --> 00:22:42,654
Let's not let it get cold.
423
00:22:44,739 --> 00:22:47,033
Hey, Bob, can you
pull her skis as well?
424
00:22:47,033 --> 00:22:48,451
Yeah, yeah.
425
00:22:48,952 --> 00:22:51,204
Are you gonna
take the weight of her? -[Mofu] Yep, yep.
426
00:22:51,204 --> 00:22:52,288
Chanda's gonna pull her.
427
00:22:52,288 --> 00:22:53,498
Absolutely, man.
428
00:22:53,498 --> 00:22:54,582
I wanted to help
429
00:22:54,582 --> 00:22:57,168
and, um, it was a good feeling.
430
00:22:57,168 --> 00:22:58,795
We're gonna fit this in
like a tray underneath.
431
00:22:59,838 --> 00:23:02,340
I felt relevant
for the first time in a long time
432
00:23:02,340 --> 00:23:03,425
helping somebody out.
433
00:23:05,301 --> 00:23:07,846
I felt like we were working
together as, like, a good team
434
00:23:08,388 --> 00:23:11,307
{\an8}and I feel like everyone
was just a lot closer
435
00:23:11,307 --> 00:23:12,392
{\an8}because of that experience.
436
00:23:12,392 --> 00:23:14,018
{\an8}And it just made
everyone feel good.
437
00:23:14,018 --> 00:23:15,562
Give her that one too.
438
00:23:15,562 --> 00:23:18,314
You guys are awesome,
and thank you,
439
00:23:18,314 --> 00:23:20,108
and I will fix this
for tomorrow.
440
00:23:21,276 --> 00:23:24,195
One of
the strong elicitors of awe
441
00:23:24,195 --> 00:23:26,156
{\an8}is teams working together
442
00:23:26,156 --> 00:23:29,325
{\an8}and-and in particular
selflessly for other people.
443
00:23:31,119 --> 00:23:32,829
So we-we still have
quite a distance to go.
444
00:23:32,829 --> 00:23:34,956
- About five miles to go.
- Yeah, yeah.
445
00:23:36,291 --> 00:23:37,959
Alright, let's go.
446
00:23:39,836 --> 00:23:41,504
And we lose sight of that,
447
00:23:41,504 --> 00:23:44,549
that, you know,
our better angels come out
448
00:23:44,549 --> 00:23:46,426
in these really
hard situation.
449
00:23:48,511 --> 00:23:51,014
And people rise to the occasion
and bring awe to us.
450
00:23:55,852 --> 00:23:57,061
Let's get you in.
451
00:23:57,729 --> 00:24:00,440
- Ah!
- Woo-hoo-hoo!
452
00:24:03,401 --> 00:24:04,861
These are sterile.
453
00:24:05,570 --> 00:24:07,530
- We'll just dry it up a bit.
- Yeah, yeah.
454
00:24:09,657 --> 00:24:11,493
- Is it painful?
- A little, yeah.
455
00:24:11,493 --> 00:24:12,869
Yeah. Okay.
456
00:24:15,079 --> 00:24:16,831
Okay, I got you.
Your backpack's right outside.
457
00:24:17,707 --> 00:24:19,167
Thank you.
458
00:24:19,167 --> 00:24:21,544
I have troubled them
enough today.
459
00:24:22,795 --> 00:24:24,380
Oh Christ.
460
00:24:24,380 --> 00:24:26,799
It was the team
that got me through,
461
00:24:26,799 --> 00:24:29,677
and I greatly admire them.
462
00:24:30,303 --> 00:24:33,264
So I'm very grateful for that
463
00:24:33,264 --> 00:24:35,683
and for the, um...
464
00:24:36,851 --> 00:24:39,812
the things that, um...
465
00:24:41,022 --> 00:24:42,774
the things
that everyone has done,
466
00:24:43,233 --> 00:24:45,068
um, and I'm gonna be better.
467
00:24:45,652 --> 00:24:47,570
- Okay.
- It looks normal?
468
00:24:48,196 --> 00:24:49,239
Hmm.
469
00:24:49,239 --> 00:24:50,573
I know that I'll just,
470
00:24:50,573 --> 00:24:52,492
obviously I gotta pack it
differently tomorrow,
471
00:24:52,492 --> 00:24:54,744
because I intend
to keep doing this.
472
00:24:55,662 --> 00:24:56,871
So you're a pioneer?
473
00:24:56,871 --> 00:24:58,248
Right, yes.
474
00:24:59,582 --> 00:25:00,708
We see in Elana,
475
00:25:00,708 --> 00:25:03,711
even though her own life
is frustrating
476
00:25:03,711 --> 00:25:07,549
and she has this amputation
that's reminding of her past
477
00:25:07,549 --> 00:25:10,260
and the difficulties
of doing the trip,
478
00:25:10,802 --> 00:25:12,804
it's the people around her
who bring her awe.
479
00:25:12,804 --> 00:25:14,138
- Cheers, everyone.
- Cheers.
480
00:25:14,138 --> 00:25:15,765
- Yes, yes, yes.
- L'chaim.
481
00:25:15,765 --> 00:25:17,559
There you go, buddy.
There you are.
482
00:25:17,559 --> 00:25:19,018
- To life.
- What about tomorrow?
483
00:25:19,018 --> 00:25:20,270
What do you think?
484
00:25:21,020 --> 00:25:22,105
I haven't tried
standing up yet
485
00:25:22,105 --> 00:25:23,356
'cause my foot's
in my pocket.
486
00:25:25,733 --> 00:25:27,527
But, I'll be good.
487
00:25:27,527 --> 00:25:28,820
I'll figure it out.
488
00:25:29,279 --> 00:25:32,240
Elana, like a lot of people
who suffer PTSD,
489
00:25:32,240 --> 00:25:35,285
had trouble feeling valued
by her community.
490
00:25:36,035 --> 00:25:38,204
I think that changed today.
491
00:25:38,204 --> 00:25:39,664
Yeah.
492
00:25:39,664 --> 00:25:42,083
But Jesus may be the toughest case.
493
00:25:42,500 --> 00:25:44,419
His trauma is fresh.
494
00:25:45,837 --> 00:25:49,215
He's only been home from
Afghanistan for a few months.
495
00:25:49,591 --> 00:25:51,718
I do find it a bit scary.
496
00:25:53,344 --> 00:25:56,764
What if I go on this trip
and nothing changes?
497
00:25:57,849 --> 00:25:59,809
Which is
a very possible outcome.
498
00:26:08,526 --> 00:26:11,279
I am... a little tired.
499
00:26:11,279 --> 00:26:12,447
Yeah.
500
00:26:13,698 --> 00:26:15,241
{\an8} I have
difficulty sleeping...
501
00:26:17,535 --> 00:26:20,204
{\an8}and when I do, I wake up
502
00:26:20,204 --> 00:26:22,290
and I'm just like, well,
today's gonna be a [bleep] day,
503
00:26:23,583 --> 00:26:25,710
and I don't want to do anything.
504
00:26:27,378 --> 00:26:30,465
Jesus is the youngest of us by far,
505
00:26:31,591 --> 00:26:33,801
{\an8}as in the age of my children.
506
00:26:34,969 --> 00:26:38,306
But a guy who, you know,
grew up instantly witnessing
507
00:26:38,306 --> 00:26:41,100
what he did
at the airport in Kabul
508
00:26:41,768 --> 00:26:43,478
when the US finally withdrew.
509
00:26:53,655 --> 00:26:55,031
I know you talked about this before
510
00:26:55,031 --> 00:26:56,991
but you remember
that moment?
511
00:26:57,408 --> 00:26:58,701
Yeah, that just...
512
00:26:58,701 --> 00:27:02,288
My job as a corpsman
was to help people, right?
513
00:27:03,164 --> 00:27:05,458
And, um, there is
nothing you can do.
514
00:27:06,709 --> 00:27:10,046
I wish I just...
could've done everything
515
00:27:10,046 --> 00:27:11,381
to bring everyone back.
516
00:27:11,839 --> 00:27:14,050
You said you have nightmares,
is it about this?
517
00:27:14,926 --> 00:27:16,469
Yeah. Yeah.
518
00:27:20,098 --> 00:27:21,641
A suicide bomber
struck an airport gate
519
00:27:21,641 --> 00:27:23,726
just yards from US forces
520
00:27:23,726 --> 00:27:26,354
who were processing Afghans
for evacuation flights.
521
00:27:27,730 --> 00:27:29,107
Throughout
the last year and a half,
522
00:27:29,107 --> 00:27:30,650
I had difficulty sleeping...
523
00:27:31,609 --> 00:27:32,985
damn near every night.
524
00:27:33,820 --> 00:27:36,823
I actually had
this terrible dream.
525
00:27:38,408 --> 00:27:40,118
I-I hear the explosion
526
00:27:40,118 --> 00:27:42,787
and I feel the waves
of the explosion hit me
527
00:27:43,955 --> 00:27:45,289
and...
528
00:27:47,041 --> 00:27:51,587
I feel hands on my chest,
bringing me down into the earth
529
00:27:51,587 --> 00:27:53,589
like deeper and deeper
and deeper.
530
00:27:55,633 --> 00:27:59,053
I just get so frustrated
with it that I don't, I don't,
531
00:28:00,179 --> 00:28:01,973
you know, I don't,
I just don't want to continue.
532
00:28:02,974 --> 00:28:04,142
It's hard.
533
00:28:06,644 --> 00:28:09,689
Re-experiencing those traumatic events
534
00:28:10,523 --> 00:28:12,900
is a symptom
of post-traumatic stress.
535
00:28:14,026 --> 00:28:16,446
Feeling like you always
have to be on edge
536
00:28:16,446 --> 00:28:19,031
{\an8}and looking for
potential threats,
537
00:28:19,031 --> 00:28:21,784
{\an8}obviously that's going to
impact your sleep as well.
538
00:28:24,537 --> 00:28:27,749
Nights are usually hard
for people with PTSD,
539
00:28:28,750 --> 00:28:31,419
but we're hoping
the deep Arctic night
540
00:28:32,879 --> 00:28:34,881
might eventually
offer us some healing.
541
00:28:38,634 --> 00:28:39,969
Look, look, look.
542
00:28:39,969 --> 00:28:42,597
Oh, wow.
543
00:28:42,597 --> 00:28:45,183
Ooh!
Oh, that's good, yeah.
544
00:28:45,183 --> 00:28:46,642
That's a flare.
545
00:28:47,059 --> 00:28:48,102
Mm-hmm.
546
00:28:48,102 --> 00:28:50,438
We went out, and this
547
00:28:50,438 --> 00:28:55,234
green, blue, white,
stunning light,
548
00:28:55,693 --> 00:28:57,236
the northern lights,
came out.
549
00:28:58,905 --> 00:29:00,323
- Now that's--
- Look at that one.
550
00:29:00,323 --> 00:29:02,158
- That one's like...
- Now the bands are...
551
00:29:02,158 --> 00:29:03,659
- Yeah.
- Oh, yeah.
552
00:29:03,659 --> 00:29:05,870
And now it starts to emerge.
553
00:29:05,870 --> 00:29:08,873
I think the happiest day
of this trip has been the northern lights.
554
00:29:10,041 --> 00:29:12,043
- It's pretty sweet.
- Yeah.
555
00:29:12,043 --> 00:29:13,586
That's insane.
556
00:29:13,586 --> 00:29:16,964
It felt like, when I was
looking at the lights,
557
00:29:18,090 --> 00:29:19,258
that everything just stopped.
558
00:29:21,177 --> 00:29:22,762
Like it was just
in a different place.
559
00:29:24,180 --> 00:29:25,389
None of the veterans
560
00:29:25,389 --> 00:29:27,767
had ever seen
a northern light before.
561
00:29:28,309 --> 00:29:29,769
This was the first time
they had.
562
00:29:30,102 --> 00:29:34,524
And that certainly
was a moment of awe.
563
00:29:34,982 --> 00:29:35,983
Uh...
564
00:29:35,983 --> 00:29:38,277
Honestly, truly was.
565
00:29:39,237 --> 00:29:41,072
Now it's really
starting to look good
566
00:29:41,072 --> 00:29:42,448
just with the naked eye.
567
00:29:42,448 --> 00:29:43,825
It hit me pretty hard.
568
00:29:44,200 --> 00:29:45,785
I teared up, for sure.
569
00:29:47,578 --> 00:29:50,957
Tears is a common bodily response of awe.
570
00:29:50,957 --> 00:29:52,750
{\an8}Released through activation
571
00:29:52,750 --> 00:29:54,710
{\an8}of the parasympathetic
autonomic nervous system.
572
00:29:57,129 --> 00:29:59,006
{\an8}The parasympathetic system,
573
00:29:59,507 --> 00:30:02,343
{\an8}when people are
experiencing awe
574
00:30:02,343 --> 00:30:05,012
{\an8}it's kind of slowing the body
down a little bit.
575
00:30:06,055 --> 00:30:07,306
- Damn good day.
- Damn good day.
576
00:30:08,182 --> 00:30:10,935
- Damn good day.
- Yeah.
577
00:30:10,935 --> 00:30:12,645
And when the nervous system
578
00:30:13,187 --> 00:30:15,106
slows the body down,
579
00:30:15,940 --> 00:30:17,233
guess what happens?
580
00:30:20,069 --> 00:30:21,070
Good morning.
581
00:30:21,070 --> 00:30:22,488
Hey, camper.
582
00:30:22,488 --> 00:30:24,073
Hi, camper.
583
00:30:24,073 --> 00:30:25,366
We have northern lights to go.
584
00:30:26,826 --> 00:30:28,452
Yo, how did you sleep?
585
00:30:28,452 --> 00:30:30,246
Um, well, this...
586
00:30:30,246 --> 00:30:31,581
This, this says
I slept pretty good.
587
00:30:31,581 --> 00:30:32,707
- That's great.
- Yeah.
588
00:30:33,332 --> 00:30:34,709
Great sleep, probably,
some of the best sleep
589
00:30:34,709 --> 00:30:36,210
I've had since I got out,
590
00:30:36,586 --> 00:30:40,172
or even longer,
since probably deployment.
591
00:30:40,172 --> 00:30:41,591
It was so good.
592
00:30:47,722 --> 00:30:49,599
After four days on the ice,
593
00:30:50,057 --> 00:30:52,602
I went back to
the nearest town, Pangnirtung,
594
00:30:52,602 --> 00:30:55,479
to meet a late addition
to our team.
595
00:30:55,479 --> 00:30:56,564
There he is.
596
00:30:58,316 --> 00:31:00,151
{\an8}Nick has arrived.
597
00:31:00,151 --> 00:31:03,237
{\an8}Nick Henry actually served
four tours in Iraq
598
00:31:03,237 --> 00:31:05,823
{\an8}and came home with
a severe traumatic brain injury.
599
00:31:06,449 --> 00:31:08,993
He missed the first
four days of the trip
600
00:31:08,993 --> 00:31:12,121
because of
a debilitating TBI migraine.
601
00:31:14,332 --> 00:31:15,499
Welcome.
602
00:31:16,792 --> 00:31:18,836
Ready for
the coldest part of your life?
603
00:31:18,836 --> 00:31:20,671
Yeah, actually I am.
604
00:31:21,047 --> 00:31:22,882
I was one of those people
that kept telling myself, like,
605
00:31:23,549 --> 00:31:25,927
there's other people
that are worse off than me.
606
00:31:26,552 --> 00:31:28,304
And then eventually it got
to the point where I'm like,
607
00:31:28,304 --> 00:31:29,847
, I need help.
608
00:31:31,807 --> 00:31:34,060
Of all the veterans on the trip,
609
00:31:34,518 --> 00:31:38,856
Nick reported the highest level
of post-traumatic stress
610
00:31:39,523 --> 00:31:43,027
and low levels of well-being
and social connection.
611
00:31:44,195 --> 00:31:46,656
I look forward to this expedition
612
00:31:46,656 --> 00:31:48,950
and being part of this process.
613
00:31:51,953 --> 00:31:53,329
It gives you hope.
614
00:31:54,914 --> 00:31:59,001
Right, like, it's an idea that
if you find enough good things,
615
00:31:59,001 --> 00:32:01,337
you can offset the bad
that you feel.
616
00:32:02,171 --> 00:32:03,965
Like, it'll, it'll be better.
617
00:32:05,132 --> 00:32:07,760
We've only got two more days
left out here.
618
00:32:09,679 --> 00:32:11,973
Can awe do something for Nick
619
00:32:12,348 --> 00:32:14,016
in only 48 hours?
620
00:32:20,356 --> 00:32:22,024
- Hey.
- Yeah!
621
00:32:22,024 --> 00:32:23,401
There's a face under there?
622
00:32:23,401 --> 00:32:25,027
{\an8}- Hello.
623
00:32:25,027 --> 00:32:26,362
{\an8}How are you?
624
00:32:26,362 --> 00:32:27,613
{\an8}Welcome to the party.
625
00:32:27,613 --> 00:32:28,990
{\an8}- What's up, man?
626
00:32:28,990 --> 00:32:30,116
Nice to meet you, man.
627
00:32:31,075 --> 00:32:33,995
We were excited that
Nick had finally caught up with us.
628
00:32:33,995 --> 00:32:35,162
Alright.
629
00:32:35,162 --> 00:32:36,789
Hey, Nick, so you got
prime real estate
630
00:32:36,789 --> 00:32:38,374
- on the end over here.
- Cool.
631
00:32:38,374 --> 00:32:39,667
Here we are.
632
00:32:39,667 --> 00:32:40,835
We've been
waiting for him to make
633
00:32:40,835 --> 00:32:42,795
that final push
to the Arctic and Thor.
634
00:32:42,795 --> 00:32:44,005
- Sweet.
- Is that it?
635
00:32:44,005 --> 00:32:45,214
Yeah.
636
00:32:45,214 --> 00:32:46,799
But hours after Nick arrived,
637
00:32:47,925 --> 00:32:49,218
the winds really blew in.
638
00:32:53,347 --> 00:32:54,765
By the way, this is the winds.
639
00:32:55,433 --> 00:32:58,019
{\an8}We have not felt this yet...
on this trip. -[Duffy] No.
640
00:32:58,019 --> 00:32:59,729
{\an8}- It's happening.
- The wind's coming in.
641
00:33:03,274 --> 00:33:04,859
We secured the tents,
642
00:33:04,859 --> 00:33:07,737
so they would not blow off
of us while we were sleeping.
643
00:33:10,781 --> 00:33:15,286
And hoped that things
would be calmer in the morning.
644
00:33:22,084 --> 00:33:23,252
Ooh!
645
00:33:24,503 --> 00:33:26,338
Now that is wind, that is wind.
646
00:33:28,215 --> 00:33:29,842
- Ooh!
- This is [bleep] crazy.
647
00:33:31,135 --> 00:33:34,305
I don't think I've ever been
in the wind like this before.
648
00:33:34,972 --> 00:33:37,433
When it's blowing
that bad, the debris...
649
00:33:38,184 --> 00:33:40,102
{\an8}just starts picking up
and flying
650
00:33:40,102 --> 00:33:41,937
{\an8}and it kind of hurts
to get hit by.
651
00:33:42,521 --> 00:33:44,023
As you guys experienced,
652
00:33:44,023 --> 00:33:46,108
it's, it's super windy outside.
653
00:33:46,108 --> 00:33:47,276
Yeah.
654
00:33:47,276 --> 00:33:49,987
This is the kind of weather
and element
655
00:33:49,987 --> 00:33:52,656
{\an8}that actually can be
really unsafe
656
00:33:52,656 --> 00:33:54,325
{\an8}that we just need
to take really seriously.
657
00:33:54,325 --> 00:33:55,409
{\an8}Okay.
658
00:33:55,409 --> 00:33:56,994
We hunkered down hoping
659
00:33:56,994 --> 00:33:58,954
that tomorrow
would be calmer
660
00:33:59,663 --> 00:34:02,374
so that we could try again
to reach the Arctic Circle
661
00:34:02,374 --> 00:34:03,667
and see Thor.
662
00:34:04,794 --> 00:34:06,545
We had one more day out here.
663
00:34:07,880 --> 00:34:10,132
It's crazy how
the wind just changed everything.
664
00:34:11,175 --> 00:34:13,344
But it is cool
to be here, though,
665
00:34:13,344 --> 00:34:16,305
'cause I was really struggling
with a lot of emotional stuff.
666
00:34:18,307 --> 00:34:20,226
When I got the call
to go on this trip,
667
00:34:20,976 --> 00:34:24,355
I was in a pretty good
depressive cycle.
668
00:34:25,606 --> 00:34:28,234
And it's almost every time
that it happens,
669
00:34:28,234 --> 00:34:31,070
my thoughts hit the same,
it's like the same script.
670
00:34:37,827 --> 00:34:39,411
After four deployments,
671
00:34:39,411 --> 00:34:41,831
some of the things
that I was dealing with
672
00:34:41,831 --> 00:34:43,499
just weren't being
processed anymore.
673
00:34:44,333 --> 00:34:46,919
I had become professional
at putting them in a box.
674
00:34:47,711 --> 00:34:51,090
So they just all stayed
in a box until...
675
00:34:51,924 --> 00:34:53,092
until they didn't.
676
00:34:53,759 --> 00:34:56,053
I didn't wanna feel it,
677
00:34:56,053 --> 00:34:57,680
and I didn't wanna
deal with it.
678
00:34:57,680 --> 00:34:59,640
So at that point in time,
679
00:34:59,640 --> 00:35:01,058
I decided I was
gonna end my life.
680
00:35:01,058 --> 00:35:03,936
I took out my Glock
and I put it to my head.
681
00:35:03,936 --> 00:35:06,939
I went and talked
to my team leader
682
00:35:06,939 --> 00:35:10,484
and I was like, "Hey,
I need to go home. Like, now."
683
00:35:20,286 --> 00:35:22,037
The first thing
I noticed waking up
684
00:35:22,037 --> 00:35:24,165
was my tent
was not shaking anymore.
685
00:35:24,540 --> 00:35:25,958
So I was like...
686
00:35:25,958 --> 00:35:27,960
"It must be calm outside!"
687
00:35:29,128 --> 00:35:30,796
You'd think the day of the wild winds
688
00:35:30,796 --> 00:35:32,548
would dampen our spirits.
689
00:35:33,382 --> 00:35:36,177
But their effect
was unexpectedly energizing.
690
00:35:36,177 --> 00:35:38,304
Gotta get the work done.
691
00:35:38,304 --> 00:35:40,097
I shoveled out
everybody's tents and stuff
692
00:35:40,097 --> 00:35:42,516
because the sun was coming up.
693
00:35:43,267 --> 00:35:44,393
It was a pretty day. I was...
694
00:35:44,393 --> 00:35:45,603
Come on in.
695
00:35:45,603 --> 00:35:46,770
...I was ready to move.
696
00:35:46,770 --> 00:35:48,355
What's up, man?
697
00:35:48,355 --> 00:35:49,940
We were all positive
698
00:35:49,940 --> 00:35:52,776
{\an8}because we knew that the
conditions were in our favor.
699
00:35:52,776 --> 00:35:56,071
So, the Arctic Circle
is right here,
700
00:35:57,072 --> 00:36:00,201
and then the distance
from the Arctic Circle to Thor
701
00:36:00,659 --> 00:36:02,369
{\an8}is about five miles.
702
00:36:02,828 --> 00:36:05,164
Basically the Arctic Circle
is halfway?
703
00:36:05,164 --> 00:36:06,248
Yeah, exactly.
704
00:36:07,458 --> 00:36:08,918
Alright, let's move.
705
00:36:11,253 --> 00:36:12,588
This is the time now.
706
00:36:13,672 --> 00:36:15,466
Let's get across the circle,
707
00:36:15,466 --> 00:36:17,134
maybe we can just continue
708
00:36:17,134 --> 00:36:20,971
to what our ultimate goal was
and see Thor Peak.
709
00:36:22,056 --> 00:36:23,515
It's gonna start
getting a little bit rocky.
710
00:36:24,266 --> 00:36:25,851
- Ooh, look at that.
- Yeah!
711
00:36:25,851 --> 00:36:28,103
I was blessed to get here today.
712
00:36:28,103 --> 00:36:29,188
That [bleep] is crazy.
713
00:36:30,314 --> 00:36:32,775
To be able to feel the awe
714
00:36:32,775 --> 00:36:36,570
of being in the mountains
and see the rocks and the snow,
715
00:36:37,238 --> 00:36:38,656
just be detached...
716
00:36:39,949 --> 00:36:42,952
from those everyday stressors.
717
00:36:46,538 --> 00:36:48,165
{\an8}Just a few miles from Thor
718
00:36:48,165 --> 00:36:50,417
{\an8}we reached a marker saying
719
00:36:50,960 --> 00:36:52,962
we were at the Arctic Circle.
720
00:36:53,545 --> 00:36:55,256
We made it
to the Arctic Circle.
721
00:36:57,883 --> 00:37:00,427
At the Arctic Circle,
I was crying a little bit,
722
00:37:01,011 --> 00:37:02,721
it just hit me, I was here.
723
00:37:04,640 --> 00:37:06,976
One of the things
about depression
724
00:37:06,976 --> 00:37:09,478
is the idea that you
don't deserve good things.
725
00:37:09,478 --> 00:37:11,230
You don't deserve
good things to happen.
726
00:37:11,730 --> 00:37:16,777
And to be at that moment,
to be like good things do happen
727
00:37:17,194 --> 00:37:19,280
was, like,
just so overwhelming.
728
00:37:20,489 --> 00:37:21,907
There's work showing
729
00:37:21,907 --> 00:37:23,909
{\an8}that certain forms of awe
730
00:37:23,909 --> 00:37:27,079
{\an8}are involved in activation
in reward circuitry,
731
00:37:27,079 --> 00:37:29,164
{\an8}people come out
of awe experiences
732
00:37:29,164 --> 00:37:30,791
{\an8}not only wanting
to be better,
733
00:37:30,791 --> 00:37:33,585
but having the sense
that they can change.
734
00:37:33,585 --> 00:37:35,170
Alright! Okay.
735
00:37:36,171 --> 00:37:38,173
We have a few more miles
left till Thor.
736
00:37:38,173 --> 00:37:40,175
- Sounds good.
- Finally.
737
00:37:40,175 --> 00:37:41,510
Let's go see this mountain
738
00:37:41,510 --> 00:37:42,970
that everyone
keeps talking about.
739
00:38:02,239 --> 00:38:04,575
We've reached the Arctic Circle
740
00:38:05,200 --> 00:38:07,536
but there is one more thing
we wanna do.
741
00:38:08,495 --> 00:38:09,955
If we push a little further,
742
00:38:09,955 --> 00:38:12,583
we can catch sight
of Thor Peak,
743
00:38:13,042 --> 00:38:16,253
the highest vertical cliff
in the world.
744
00:38:17,254 --> 00:38:19,715
We're hoping for
a final dose of awe.
745
00:38:21,216 --> 00:38:24,053
But getting there means
navigating steep slopes
746
00:38:24,053 --> 00:38:26,972
carved by millennia
of glacial movements,
747
00:38:27,473 --> 00:38:30,601
which also left behind fields
of giant boulders.
748
00:38:30,601 --> 00:38:32,102
What do you think?
749
00:38:32,102 --> 00:38:33,937
The only thing
is the-the steepness over there.
750
00:38:35,814 --> 00:38:38,817
I mean, it's-it's rocky waterfall terrain.
751
00:38:39,902 --> 00:38:44,907
The, the water had frozen
in steps in some places,
752
00:38:45,491 --> 00:38:47,326
but the ice was just...
753
00:38:47,951 --> 00:38:49,203
{\an8}Some of that stuff was so slick.
754
00:38:49,203 --> 00:38:51,080
{\an8}It was... it was hard.
755
00:38:51,080 --> 00:38:52,706
{\an8} I don't know
how I'm gonna do this yet.
756
00:38:52,706 --> 00:38:54,750
- You got it, I got you.
- Ohh.
757
00:38:54,750 --> 00:38:57,086
Nick stayed back
758
00:38:57,086 --> 00:39:00,631
{\an8}to keep a hand on my pack
759
00:39:00,631 --> 00:39:04,343
{\an8}so that I could move forward.
760
00:39:05,010 --> 00:39:08,347
And, if she needed a lift
he would lift her up.
761
00:39:08,347 --> 00:39:09,932
I got you.
762
00:39:09,932 --> 00:39:12,184
{\an8}It was really amazing
to see that.
763
00:39:14,269 --> 00:39:15,354
- There we go.
- Ohh...
764
00:39:15,354 --> 00:39:17,398
Yeah! How you doing?
765
00:39:17,398 --> 00:39:19,066
- Let's go!
- Yeah?
766
00:39:19,066 --> 00:39:20,692
Let's go, bro.
767
00:39:25,697 --> 00:39:27,199
- Here comes the wind.
- Alright.
768
00:39:28,700 --> 00:39:30,577
The beauty that encompasses
769
00:39:30,577 --> 00:39:32,162
this place is amazing.
770
00:39:32,162 --> 00:39:33,831
Almost there.
771
00:39:33,831 --> 00:39:37,251
After this nasty terrain
of ice and rocks...
772
00:39:39,086 --> 00:39:40,587
you turn a corner,
773
00:39:41,380 --> 00:39:43,215
and, uh, then you see Thor.
774
00:39:45,008 --> 00:39:46,802
- You made it.
- Hell, yeah.
775
00:39:46,802 --> 00:39:47,970
We walked up and...
776
00:39:48,846 --> 00:39:50,764
and all had
our own moments of,
777
00:39:50,764 --> 00:39:53,475
{\an8}of, uh, of success
778
00:39:54,309 --> 00:39:55,686
in achieving our goal.
779
00:39:55,686 --> 00:39:57,438
Look at this, you guys.
780
00:39:57,438 --> 00:39:58,605
It's pretty awesome, huh?
781
00:39:58,605 --> 00:39:59,940
That's a little awe.
782
00:39:59,940 --> 00:40:01,108
Yeah, right?
783
00:40:01,859 --> 00:40:03,318
The world's an awesome place
784
00:40:03,318 --> 00:40:05,154
when you're not fighting against
other human beings, isn't it?
785
00:40:05,154 --> 00:40:07,197
- Right?
- So true.
786
00:40:07,197 --> 00:40:08,449
So amazing.
787
00:40:08,449 --> 00:40:09,575
Glad you saw it, dude.
788
00:40:09,575 --> 00:40:10,909
Glad you're here.
Glad you're here.
789
00:40:10,909 --> 00:40:12,035
Yeah, I am glad I made it.
790
00:40:12,035 --> 00:40:13,162
- Yeah.
- Yeah.
791
00:40:13,162 --> 00:40:14,663
- It's gorgeous.
792
00:40:16,039 --> 00:40:17,166
Just unreal.
793
00:40:18,834 --> 00:40:19,835
What a journey.
794
00:40:19,835 --> 00:40:20,961
Yeah, man.
795
00:40:21,670 --> 00:40:22,713
Whoo!
796
00:40:23,505 --> 00:40:25,048
Group hug,
you guys, group hug.
797
00:40:31,388 --> 00:40:33,307
And here's
the most amazing thing.
798
00:40:34,600 --> 00:40:38,020
It turns out that all the changes we felt
on that mountain,
799
00:40:39,688 --> 00:40:41,273
we brought them home with us.
800
00:40:49,281 --> 00:40:52,075
We would continue to monitor
our heart rate and sleep
801
00:40:52,075 --> 00:40:54,119
for two weeks
after we left the Arctic...
802
00:40:56,371 --> 00:40:59,333
and each took
one more cortisol test at home.
803
00:41:04,838 --> 00:41:07,716
Turns out even Craig
was surprised by the results.
804
00:41:09,343 --> 00:41:12,763
{\an8}I was really...
a little blown away
805
00:41:12,763 --> 00:41:15,140
{\an8}by what we found
in the size of the effects.
806
00:41:15,140 --> 00:41:17,309
{\an8}Every single one
of our participants
807
00:41:17,309 --> 00:41:20,479
showed an improvement
in their cortisol pattern.
808
00:41:21,939 --> 00:41:25,192
Every one of us was sleeping more deeply
809
00:41:25,776 --> 00:41:28,070
and up to 25% longer.
810
00:41:29,196 --> 00:41:32,241
The scientists
told me that all of us,
811
00:41:32,241 --> 00:41:33,659
not just veterans,
812
00:41:34,451 --> 00:41:38,705
should try to get a dose of awe
every two weeks or so.
813
00:41:39,581 --> 00:41:41,708
And you don't have
to go to the Arctic.
814
00:41:43,752 --> 00:41:45,754
Studies show
we experience awe
815
00:41:45,754 --> 00:41:49,758
when we slow down
to pay attention to nature...
816
00:41:52,844 --> 00:41:54,638
...laugh with the people
we love...
817
00:41:57,641 --> 00:41:59,434
spend time with our children.
818
00:42:01,103 --> 00:42:03,689
Awe comes
from noticing all the ways
819
00:42:03,689 --> 00:42:09,361
we are part of a vast,
mysterious, beautiful universe.
820
00:42:14,199 --> 00:42:15,617
I think it worked.
821
00:42:15,617 --> 00:42:17,202
The view is amazing,
822
00:42:17,995 --> 00:42:19,121
people are awesome.
823
00:42:20,122 --> 00:42:23,083
I hope that it lasts.
824
00:42:23,750 --> 00:42:26,670
What is is and you can't
go back and change it.
825
00:42:27,546 --> 00:42:29,923
It's about seeing things
that are bigger than you.
826
00:42:31,300 --> 00:42:33,093
I am really grateful for everything.
827
00:42:33,635 --> 00:42:35,095
Here comes the wind.
828
00:42:35,095 --> 00:42:36,179
I got you.
829
00:42:37,764 --> 00:42:38,849
You got it.
830
00:42:38,849 --> 00:42:40,309
To push all the way through
831
00:42:40,309 --> 00:42:42,728
all the negative feelings
and all the depression.
832
00:42:45,272 --> 00:42:46,940
Like I just feel it
all just oozing out,
833
00:42:46,940 --> 00:42:48,567
and it was like,
"Oh, this is so beautiful."
834
00:42:48,567 --> 00:42:49,735
Look, look, look.
835
00:42:49,735 --> 00:42:52,362
- Oh, wow.
- Oh!
836
00:42:52,362 --> 00:42:55,365
Somewhere
over these last weeks,
837
00:42:55,365 --> 00:42:56,617
I let go of stress.
838
00:42:58,452 --> 00:43:01,663
So, the science doesn't lie.
Numbers don't lie.
839
00:43:02,456 --> 00:43:04,750
And the numbers prove
that I was, uh,
840
00:43:05,626 --> 00:43:07,669
physically better
because of this experience.
841
00:43:13,967 --> 00:43:15,761
Mount Thor is just humongous.
842
00:43:18,388 --> 00:43:21,350
Just looking at it and just
taking it and realizing...
843
00:43:23,143 --> 00:43:24,436
you're tiny.
844
00:43:26,938 --> 00:43:28,899
Those big problems
that you have...
845
00:43:31,234 --> 00:43:32,778
are tiny compared
to that mountain...
846
00:43:34,112 --> 00:43:35,614
and it just goes away.
847
00:43:35,614 --> 00:43:38,784
{\an8} Exactly what
we've all been hoping for.
848
00:43:38,784 --> 00:43:40,452
{\an8}- Okay.
- Scoot in, scoot in.
849
00:43:40,452 --> 00:43:42,037
{\an8}- Yeah, man.
850
00:43:42,037 --> 00:43:43,121
{\an8}That's it.
851
00:43:43,121 --> 00:43:45,082
{\an8}Yeah, there you go. Nice!
852
00:43:45,082 --> 00:43:46,375
{\an8} This could be
the greatest picture ever.
853
00:43:50,253 --> 00:43:52,881
{\an8}That's just... awesome.